Neil Sharpe

Chef Kevin Thiele

March of Dimes 12th Annual Signature Chefs Auction
Thursday, September 19, 2013 Belle Mer, Newport

March of Dimes Rhode Island is delighted to announce that award-winning Chef Kevin Thiele will be its 2013 Signature Chef. Thiele is Director of Food and Beverage/Executive Chef at the venerable Hotel Viking in Newport, RI, part of Noble House Hotels & Resorts Ltd.

Ellen Slattery, owner of Gracie’s Restaurant and Ellie’s Bakery in Providence and Annette Picerne, are this year’s event co-chairs. Slattery, on behalf of the Chefs’ Nominating Committee, recommended Chef Thiele as the March of Dimes Rhode Island 2013 Signature Chef. She cited both Thiele’s culinary talents and accomplishments as well as his many years as a tireless supporter of the March of Dimes as factors, among others, in the committee’s deliberations and ultimate recommendation as this year’s honoree.

Upon hearing this news, Mark Gervais, General Manager of Hotel Viking, said, “Chef Kevin is a gifted and resourceful culinary professional. Equally important, he consistently demonstrates entrepreneurship and professionalism in all that he does and elevates his culinary team as well as the Hotel to new heights and standards of success. Suffice to say, he is a wonderful work partner. I am privileged to have Kevin as a friend and colleague.”

Betsy Akin, State Director of March of Dimes Rhode Island, and host of the 2013 Signature Chefs Auction, commented, “In this our 75th anniversary year, March of Dimes Rhode Island is honored to have Kevin as its 2013 Signature Chef. We salute all our fabulous chefs who give so freely of their time and incredible talents to support our lifesaving mission.”

March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction co-chairs Annette Picerne (left) and Ellen Slattery (right) with 2013 Signature Chef Kevin Thiele (center)

Chef Thiele said, “I am truly honored to be recognized as March of Dimes Rhode Island’s Signature Chef. Together with my fellow chefs, it is a privilege for us to share our talents and raise funds as we continue to work together for stronger, healthier babies in Rhode Island and across the country.”

Signature Chefs Auction, now in its 12th year, will be held at Belle Mer in Newport on September 19, 2013 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm and will feature 26 of RI’s finest and most talented chefs. For more information, contact Neil Sharpe at nsharpe@marchofdimes.com or by telephone directly at 401.228.1932. Alternatively connect with March of Dimes on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MarchOfDimesRI

March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.